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National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator

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The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) commenced operations on 1 January 2012. NOPTA provides information, assessments and advice to members of the Joint Authorities and to the responsible Commonwealth Minister in relation to the performance of those ministers’ functions and the exercise of their powers. NOPTA facilitates title administration, manages the collection, storage and release of data and oversees the keeping of registers of petroleum and greenhouse gas storage titles.

NOPTA is branch of the Resources Division within the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

2015 NOPTA Operational Review

The Operational Review of NOPTA was a legislated requirement under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. The 2015 Review was the first review of NOPTA since its establishment on 1 January 2012, and relates to the three-year period beginning on that date. Subsequent reviews will relate to successive five-year periods.

The Review considered the effectiveness of the Titles Administrator in contributing to the efficiency of the decision making by a Joint Authority for a State or the Northern Territory. The Review was conducted by an independent consultancy, Noetic Solutions, and was provided to the then Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, on 30 June 2015 and tabled in both Houses of Parliament on 16 September 2015.

Government Response

The Government Response to the 2015 Operational Review of NOPTA was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on 2 December 2015 by the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP.

The Government has examined each of the 12 recommendations and has noted six, accepted five and agreed in principle with one. Implementing eight of the recommendations is the responsibility of Resources Division in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, two are the responsibility of the Titles Administrator and one is the responsibility of the Titles Administrator working with the Chief Executive Officer of NOPSEMA. One recommendation is not being pursued by the Government at this time. Where appropriate, recommendations will be progressed in consultation with relevant states and the Northern Territory.

Implementation Progress Report

The Government Response to the 2015 Operational Review of NOPTA included a commitment to deliver an Implementation Progress Report to the responsible Commonwealth Minister by 31 August 2016.

The Implementation Progress Report details the work carried out in progressing recommendations arising from the Review. As outlined in the Report, progress has been achieved across all agreed recommendations. Six items are complete, and five are in progress. Of the five items in progress, two require further consultation.

The department acknowledges the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past and present.